Shoe



Aug. 11, 1925. 1,549,237

G. c. V AUGHAN SHOE Filed July 25, 1922 INVEN'FEIVIZ ,4

I Patented Aug. 11, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SHOE.

Application filed Ju1y 25,.1922. Serial No. 577,272.

To all. whom it may concern:

Be it known I, Gnonen C.-VAUGHAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hamilton, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shoes, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

As is well understood by those skilled in the boot and shoe making art,McKay shoes are ordinarily very stiff and inflexible due to the factthat the parts of which the sole is compbsed act like a truss andprevent flexing of shoes. This fact will be understood when it isconsidered that in bending the shoe transversely, as occurs in walking,the lower surface of the outsole is stretched while the insole,particularly at its upper or inner surface, is compressed. Thisstretching and compression of the two layers composing the soleisstrongly resisted by the materials if the shoe is'well made so thatthe sole as a whole is very stifil. However, if the sole as a wholebends, the compression of the insole causes it to buckle and formtransverse wrinkles under the ball of the foot where the weight ischiefly supported. This has been found to be a serious objection toMcKay boots and shoes.

The present invention has for its objecta boot or shoe which will beflexible across the ball'of the foot and therefore will be morecomfortable and durable; While my invention is particularly applicableto Me- Kay shoes, I do not limit myself to its use in shoes of thistype.

The invention will be fully understood from the following descriptionwhen taken in connection with the accompanying draw,-

pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of thisspecification.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the shoe embodyingmy invention.

, Fig. 2 is an interior view of the shoe shown in Figure 1, the parts ofthe upper being separated to disclose the construction of the insole.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the-action of theparts when the sole is bent.

Fig. 4 shows a modification of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and 2, at A isshown the outsole, at B the insole, at C the upper,

mgs, and the novel features thereof will beand a 1) the stitchiri g bymeans ofwhich the outsole and insole are secured together.

In practising my invention in its preferred of the rear of the ball ofthe foot of the wearer of the shoe. In other words the slot 'F isinclined transversely, the end of said slot which is nearest the insidefoot part of f the sole being nearer the toe part of the sole than theother end of said slot. Intercept-- ing the ends of the slot F, are twoside or wing slots G and H. These slots may be curved, as shown inFigure 2, i'n which case they are substantially parallel with the lineof stitching D by which the parts of the shoe are held together, or theymay be given such other shape and direction as seems necessary. I

These slots F, G and H together form a tongue K. This tongue K is notcemented, stuck, nailed or otherwise secured to the outsole, although itis still an integral part of the insole. The tongue is therefore free toslide relatively to the outsole. The inclined arrangement ofthe slot Fabove described results in an even sliding movement of the tongue K whenthe wearer of the shoe is walking.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the sole of the shoe isbent along the line of the slot F, the tongue K can slide slightly onthe outsole, thereby narrowing the slot F, the unsevered portions L andM of the insole opposite the ends of the slot F, serving as hinges toconnect the toe and heel portions of the insole and materiallystrengthen the shoe. The slot in the insole permits the outsole to bendeasily without compressing the insole and there fore greatly increasesthe freedom of movement of the parts and the flexibility of the shoe.

In Figure 4 is shown an insole provided with slidable tongues ofdifferent forms.

This insole contains two zigzag slots S and T forming tongues U, V, W,X, Y', and Z. This construction gives more extended flexibility than ahinge at the line of the ball and may be more satisfactory for certainclasses of shoes.

What I claim is:

1. An improved shoe having an outsole and an insole secured together,the insole being slotted transversely at a point about midway of itslength, so as to come in proximity to the rear part of the ball of thefoot of the wearer, a narrow piece of stock being removed from said slotand the ends of the slot terminating closely adjacent to, but short ofthe side seams of the shoe, said insole having other slots at an angleto the first-mentioned slot and which are disposed closely adjacent toand parallel to the'lines.

of stitching at the sides of the shoe, thus forming a tongue which isadapted to move relatively to the remainder of the insole when the shoeis bent, the parts of the insole outside of said tongue and last-namedslots affording hin econnections between therear and forwar parts ofsaid insole.

2. An improved shoe-having an outsole and an insole secured-together,the insole being slotted transversely at .a point about midway of itslength, so as to come in proximity to the rear part of the ball "of thea foot of the wearer, said slot being inclined transversely so that theend'thereof which is nearest the inside foot part of the shoe is nearerthe toe part of the shoe' than the other end of" said slot, a narrowpiece of stock being removed from said slot and the disposed closelyadjacent to and .of the insole outside of said tongue and last-namedslots affording hinge connections between the rear and forward parts ofsaid insole.

3. An insole, for-boots or shoes, having a cut-out transverse slot aboutmidwa of its length" at-a point: in proximity to t e rear part of thefoot ball rtion of said insole, said slot being inclin end thereofwhicl'ris nearest the inside'foot portion of said insole being nearerthe toe part of said insole than the other end of said slot, said.insole having other slots communicat'mg withjandr extending forwardfrom said first-named-slot, thus forming. a loose tongue having-atransversely inclined rear end.

In testimony whereof 1am: in .si ature. GEORGE GQ'VA G AN.

transversely and the

